Passive-Aggression

It is the opposite of honesty: instead of stating what you think, you say something provocative but from a passive (non-attacking) position, hoping to provoke the other party into a more extreme reaction so you can play the victim.

Hmmm. That would explain - sort of - why certain uberly-aggressive internet-types tend to accuse me of being passive-aggressive. Whereas nobody ever has, face to face. I've been practising honesty for so long that I do it in my sleep. In an online confrontation I prefer to remain calm, since it is beyond my abilities to punch out dickheads over a wifi network. Calm, in the face of ranting abuse, is so rare, that it gets interpreted as passive-aggression. All becomes clear.

It amuses you to level accusations at people that could cause suffering to them. Even though you may not believe it to be true, re: the term 'only'. This, you see, is the part I don't understand. Causing pain for personal amusement. Admins refer to this sort of thing as 'toxic'.

It amuses you to level accusations at people that could cause suffering to them. Even though you may not believe it to be true, re: the term 'only'. This, you see, is the part I don't understand. Causing pain for personal amusement. Admins refer to this sort of thing as 'toxic'.

If you insult me, you interfere with the free exchange of ideas that would otherwise have been able to occur, causing useless conflict to ensue, instead. Likewise, if I insult you. Humans react to stimuli. They may be practised in the art of not showing it, but the reaction remains. Like/don't like. Agree/disagree. Engage/disengage.